WINONA, Minn. — For the second game in a row, the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Gustavus women's hockey teams battled to a one-goal decision Saturday afternoon in the teams' Minnesota Intercollegiate Athetic Conference rematch at the Saint Mary's Ice Arena.
 
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, it was the sixth-ranked Gusties who came away with the victory, as Gustavus scored the game's only goal less than two minutes into the second period in handing Saint Mary's a 1-0 setback.
 
"I thought we played hard—but we didn't play with the confidence that we did last night," said Saint Mary's coach Terry Mannor, whose team dropped a 3-2 decision to the conference-leading Gusties on Friday at Don Roberts Ice Rink in St. Peter, Minn. "Last night, we were winning races to the puck, and today we played a little more tentative.
 
"Gustavus is a very good team—one of the best in the country—and I think we proved that when we play the way we are capable, we are every bit as good."
 
After a scoreless first period—thanks in large part to the play of Saint Mary's goalie Marah Shields (Milford, Mich.), who made 13 first-period saves—the Gusties finally broke through 1:15 into the middle frame, as Keri Pickel scored what proved to be the game's only goal on the power play.
 
From there, Shields and GAC goalie Lindsey Hibbard stole the show.
 
Shields certainly did her part to keep the Cardinals close, as the sophomore goalie made a career-high 40 saves, while Hibbard stopped all 19 shots she faced for her fourth shutout of the season.
 
The Cardinals (5-4-1 MIAC, 7-8-2 overall) are on the road for the first game of their two-game conference series against St. Olaf next Friday, squaring off against the Oles at 7:30 p.m. in Northfield, Minn. Saint Mary's will then host the Oles in Game 2 on Saturday at 2 p.m.